What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Nashua has the most people working from home (17.4%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rochester	Nashua
People
Population	33,144Lowest	91,294Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43±1.8Highest about the NH average	40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH
	Rochester and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.6%±1.2Highest NH: 18.2%
	Nashua and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1%	16.9%±1Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Rochester and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	41.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%	5%±0.6Highest NH: 6%
	Nashua and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH	$96,326±$5kHighest about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH	$403,900±$11kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH	$1,737±$41Highest 16% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Lowest 20% below NH	$6,799Highest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2%	45.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Rochester and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	7.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Highest NH: 72.8%	55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	26 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	17.4%±1.6Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#98 of 120 in NH	#67 of 120 in NH
School district	Rochester School District	Nashua School District
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Nashua High School South
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.